Foreign universities can now open campus in India

Indian Government finally approved a bill to allow foreign education providers set up campuses in India and offer degrees. The Foreign Educational Institution (Regulation of Entry and Operation) Bill, 2010, was cleared by the Union Cabinet presided by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. This paves way for its introduction in Parliament. "This is a milestone which will enhance choices, increase competition and benchmark quality," HRD Minister Kapil Sibal said after the approval of the bill by Cabinet. The bill seeks to regulate the entry and operation of foreign institutions, which will set up centre and offer degrees in India. This bill was hanging fire for over last four years owing to opposition from various quarters, including the Left parties, over certain provisions. The bill was approved by the Cabinet without any change on Monday.

The regulatory body in higher education, either UGC or any other body that would replace UGC, will scrutinise the proposals of aspiring institution as per India's priorities and advice government whether to allow the institute operate in India. Sibal has already said that quota laws will not be applicable to foreign universities setting up campuses in India. The proposed law would facilitate the globally renowned institutes to participate in India's higher education sector. It will bring in foreign education providers for vocational education training also.

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Shootout near ISRO Bangalore centre

A shootout between two unidentified men and security guards took place near ISRO's Byalalu Centre in Bangalore on Tuesday morning. According to TV reports, two unidentified men moving in a suspicious manner near the ISRO Centre opened fire on the security guards on being interrogated by them. The guards retaliated by firing at the two men who managed to escape after they came under attack.

"Two people were seen moving in a suspicious manner outside our centre," ISRO spokesman S Satish told Reuters. "The police immediately challenged them, and they opened fire in retaliation. The shootout continued for some time before the two men fled." "The police are investigating. It is up to them to see whether it was a terror attack," he added. The home ministry sees ISRO buildings as a high priority target for terrorists, and has beefed up security around them after warnings of possible attacks.

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What makes Rajasthan royals special

Rajasthan Royals, owned by Emerging Media, represents the state of Rajasthan and is based in the 'Pink City' of Jaipur. The team embodies the royal elegance, style, valor and class of Rajasthan and its people. The Rajputs of Rajasthan are famous for their courage, strength and fighting prowess - qualities fittingly epitomized by the team as well. Just like the lions, the Rajasthan Royals are the kings of the IPL. The journey to the top however was not an easy one. The Royals were branded as the 'underdogs' as we boasted of no 'icon player' and consisted of hitherto lesser known cricketers. However, that did not deter us from believing in ourselves and performing to our potential. We began our campaign with a defeat which made our resolve to win the IPL even stronger. The defeat was followed by a string of victories all strung together by our legendary captain and coach, Shane Warne. Warnie was the inspiration behind the team's stupendous success in the IPL. He was ably supported by the team who rallied around their leader in unison. It was this special ability which helped us become the champions of the IPL inaugural trophy.
Rajasthan Royals, even though they were champions in 2008, are now considered among weakest team in IPL Season 3 even they're the team most fans love to support after their own. They possess the tournament's fastest bowler and perhaps its most destructive batsman but, a few overseas players apart, also a bunch of boys who aren't individually threatening. Their captain, formerly the world's greatest legspinner, is now a glamorous poker player, an expert at staying in fashion and the team's chief inspiration. He's fashioned a team in his own image, one that in his own words "plays to entertain".

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Blast at Pokhran firing range kills 4 Armymen in Western Rajasthan

Four Army jawans killed in a blast in a firing range in Pokhran in Rajasthan. The incident occurred last night when the troops were firing 81 mm mortars and one of the shells exploded, killing the four jawans at the range, about 40 km from here, army sources said today. The army has ordered a probe into the reasons behind the accident, they said in New Delhi.
In March 2008, three army personnel were killed and two others were injured during the 'Brazen Chariots' exercise in the same field firing range. A 125-mm mortar gun had exploded even as the personnel were firing it for a live demonstration while the army's top brass, defence attaches and diplomats from foreign countries were watching the exercise.

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St Xavier college Jaipur soon in Pink City

One of the oldest schools in the city, St Xavier School will be branching out to start its own college. The school, founded in 1941 by Jesuit Society, will be initially launching degree courses in its college, to be affiliated to Rajasthan University. In the first session starting in July 2010, the college will admit students in three streams-- Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and Bachelor of Computer Application (BCA). The Jesuit Society plans a big campus -- similar to the school's -- either at Jagatpura or Ajmer Road, though the college will be run from the Hathroi Fort Road campus in the first year.

"This new initiative by the Jesuits was inspired by the present national higher education policy which involves expansion, excellence and inclusion. The college aims to transcend the existing level of education in Jaipur with the help of an expert faculty and a thoroughly researched curriculum, providing holistic development to its students," said Fr Varkey Perekkatt, manager, St Xavier's College. "The BBA and BCA streams will have 60 seats each, which, if the university allows, can go up to 100. However, we will have a minimum of 100 seats in the BCom stream, with at least two sections. The medium of instruction will be English with a highly-qualified faculty," said Fr Varkey. The college already got NOC for 11 subjects in arts and six in science stream, which will be launched once the college gets a full-fledged campus.

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ONGC may setup Oil refinery in Barmer Rajasthan

Oil and Natural Gas Corp. (ONGC) may setup Oil refinery in barmer district of rajasthan as per initial reports from Petroleum minister Murli and media report. Earlier IOC has regretted its participation as equity partner in the proposed Barmer refinery due to the financial constraints faced by the corporation and now ONGC may brings some smile on face. Originally proposed in 2004-05, the project was declared economically unviable after the previous Vasundhara Raje government in Rajasthan did not agree to give fiscal incentive like interest free loan and sales tax exemption for the products to be produced at the 15 million tonnes a year unit. After Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot renewed the demand of setting up refinery project in the state last year, ONGC decided to do a feasibility study again considering the fiscal concession that the state government was willing to extend to the project.

The refinery was proposed to turn the crude oil produced by Cairn India from its Barmer fields into products. However, considering the fact that the peak oil production from the Cairn’s Barmer field, where ONGC has 30% stake, was only 8.75 million tonnes, which may last a maximum of seven years, the refinery was considered unviable. AUnion petroleum minister Murli Deora said the state would surpass all records in the next few months in petro production and the revenue in the form of royalty is estimated to be to the tune of Rs 5,000 crore once the production achieves its peak in the next few years.
Rajasthan’s Barmer-Jaisalmer basin would be the largest source of petroleum reserves in the country contributing to 21% of the total domestic production, he said. With more and more discoveries, it has the potential to emerge as the petroleum hub, he said. The minister reiterated that the final decision on the demand for refinery would be taken after the S C Tripathi committee submits its report. He asked the government to be patient and the central government would take a decision at the earliest. This refinary will held industrial growth in rajasthan as well as employment opportunity.

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26 students die as College bus falls into river in Rajasthan

Accident in Dholpur district of rajasthan claim at least 26 students life of a teacher training college as student were killed after a bus carrying them plunged 60 feet deep into a river near Sawai Madhopur, 180 km west of Jaipur, early on Monday. The students were from the Mother India Teacher Training College in Khanpur tehsil of Jhalawar district. They were returning from Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh. A total of 58 people including 51 students and seven staff were on the bus. According to initial reports, the bus rammed into a stationary vehicle on a bridge, broke the barrier of the bridge and fell into the river.
Superintendent of Police, Sawai Madhopur Vikas Kumar told HT that all the bodies had been recovered. We used cranes and JCBs to recover the bodies. We have 26 dead bodies at the government hospital in Sawai Madhopur. There are unconfirmed reports that 2 of the injured who were taken to Kota have died. Of the injured, 10 men and four woman students were admitted at the Maharao Bhim Singh Hospital in Kota. Chandra Prakash, a student who was slightly injured in the accident, said they had left five days back for a trip to Haridwar where the Mahakumbh is on, Mathura and Vrindavan. They were returning from Vrindavan when the accident happened.

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Mumbai Indians beat Rajasthan royals by 4 Runs

Mumbai Indians beat Rajasthan royals by 4 Runs in first match played at Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai. Mumbai indians win toes and elected to bat first and scored a huge score of 212/6 in 20 overs with big hits from Saurabh Tiwary and Ambati Rayudu. Rajasthan royals loose early wickets and once 66/4 in 9.2 overs but then yosuf pathan(100) blasted over mumbai indians bowlers with 8 six and 9 fours but finally loose the match in close encounter in its first match with Mumbai Indians.

Score Summary:
Mumbai Indian First Inning:
212/6 in 20 overs
Saurabh Tiwary 53 (33)
Ambati Rayudu 55 (33)
Dimitri Mascarenhas 34/2
Rajasthan Royals Second Inning:
208/7 in 20 Overs
Graeme Smith 26 (22)
Yusuf Pathan 100(37)
P Dogra 41 (29)

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